Tamper evident container

ABSTRACT

A tamper evident container includes a tray portion having a base, a sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base, and a lid portion having an open position and a closed position. The lid portion may be configured to lockingly engage the tray portion in the closed position. A first hinge may be connected to lid portion and tray portion for rotation of the lid portion relative to the tray portion. A tamper evident closure may also be provided having an open position and a locked position, wherein in the locked position the tamper evident closure connects the tray portion and the lid portion when the lid portion in the closed position. A line of weakness is provided in the tamper evident closure which, when broken after the tamper evident closure is in the locked position, permits the lid portion to be moved from the closed position to the open position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/316,630, filed on Mar. 4, 2022. The contents of that application are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to containers with a tamper evident closure configured to provide a visual indication that the container was previously opened.

BACKGROUND

Containers can be made with various structures. One such structure is a clamshell container which includes a base and a lid attached together by a hinge, resulting in a structure that has the appearance and function of a clamshell. An alternative structure is a multi-piece container that includes separate base and lid designed to fit together. Both clamshell containers and multi-piece containers typically include a closure designed to hold the lid on the base once the container is closed. A variety of closures may be used, including snap connections, staples, labels, adhesives, and/or screw tops.

Containers can also be closed with a tamper evident closure, which incorporates a feature that becomes irreversibly altered when the container has been opened for the first time, thereby providing visual evidence that the container was previously opened. Clamshell containers may include a tamper evident closure that requires the hinge between the base and lid to be broken to open the container, resulting in the lid and base becoming separate pieces after opening. Tamper evident closures may also include tear strips that are separated from the container when opened for the first time, resulting in a separate piece of plastic or other material after the container has been opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is provided to introduce the reader to the more detailed discussion to follow. The summary is not intended to limit or define the claims.

According to one broad aspect, a tamper evident container is provided wherein the container includes a first container portion, a second container portion and a first hinge connected to the first container portion and the second container portion for rotation of the first and second container portions relative to each other from an open position to a closed position. The tamper evident container also has a tamper evident closure which includes a locking tab and a second hinge connected to the first container portion wherein the locking tab is rotatable about the second hinge to move the locking tab to a locked position wherein the locking tab is connected to a portion of the second container portion when the container is in the closed position. The tamper evident closure also includes a line of weakness that can be broken when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position to allow the first container portion and the second container portion to be rotated relative to each other from the closed position to the open position while the locking tab remains connected with the second container portion after the line of weakness is broken.

In some examples, the locking tab of the tamper evident container may comprise a first protrusion and the second container portion may comprise a first recess wherein the first protrusion is inserted within the first recess when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position. The first protrusion may also be retained within the first recess by a snap connection. The first recess may also be provided in a lip extending from the second container portion and the locking tab is rotated about the lip to insert the first protrusion in the first recess. The locking tab may also include at least one side edge and the second container portion may include at least one surface that surrounds a portion of the first recess wherein the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent to the at least one surface when the locking tab is in the locked position to inhibit access to the at least one side edge of the locking tab. The at least one surface may comprise a portion of a side wall of the second container portion and/or at least one projection extending from the lip.

In other examples, the first container portion of the tamper evident may include at least one gripping tab extending outwardly and the tamper evident closure may include a holding surface wherein the line of weakness is positioned between the at least one gripping tab and the holding surface. The holding surface may include a second protrusion positioned between the second hinge and the line of weakness. The tamper evident closure may also include a second recess opposite to the second protrusion and a lip protrusion opposite to the first recess such that, in the locked position, the lip protrusion is inserted into the second recess.

In further examples, the first container portion comprises a lid having an outside periphery edge and the second container portion comprises a tray portion having a base and the sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base and in the closed position the outside periphery edge of the lid portion engages the sidewall of the tray portion in a snap connection. The sidewall of the tray portion may also include a ridge extending around at least a portion of an upper edge of the sidewall and wherein in the closed position, at least a portion of the outside periphery edge of the lid portion abuts against at least a portion of the ridge to inhibit access to the at least a portion of the outside periphery edge.

In another broad aspect, a tamper evident closure for a container comprising a first container portion and a second container portion connected by a first hinge is provided wherein the tamper evident closure includes a locking tab and a second hinge configured to be attached to the first container portion wherein the locking tab is rotatable about the second hinge to move the locking tab to a locked position wherein the locking tab is connected to a portion of the second container portion when the container in a closed position. The tamper evident closure also includes a line of weakness that can be broken when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position to allow the first container portion and the second container portion to be rotated relative to each other from the closed position to an open position and the locking tab remains connected with the second container portion after the line of weakness is broken.

In some examples, the locking tab may include a first protrusion and the first protrusion is inserted within a first recess in the second container portion when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position. The first protrusion may also be retained within the first recess by a snap connection. The first recess may also be provided in a lip extending from the second container portion and the locking tab is rotated about the lip to insert the first protrusion in the first recess. The locking tab may also include at least one side edge and the second container portion may include at least one surface that surrounds a portion of the first recess wherein the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent to the at least one surface when the locking tab is in the locked position to inhibit access to the at least one side edge of the locking tab. The at least one surface may comprise a portion of a side wall of the second container portion and/or at least one projection extending from the lip.

In other examples, the tamper evidence closure may also include a holding surface, the first container portion may include at least one gripping tab extending outwardly and the line of weakness may be positioned between the holding surface and the at least one gripping tab. The holding surface may include a second protrusion positioned between the second hinge and the line of weakness. The tamper evident closure may also include a second recess opposite to the second protrusion and a lip protrusion opposite to the first recess such that, in the locked position, the lip protrusion is inserted into the second recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tamper evident container in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in a closed position with a tamper evident closure in a locked position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in a closed position with the tamper evident closure in a locked position.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a front portion of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in a closed position with the tamper evident closure in a locked position.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a front portion of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in a closed position with the tamper evident closure in a locked position.

FIG. 7A is a bottom elevation view of a front portion of the lid of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in an open position as shown in FIG. 2 showing a first embodiment of the line of weakness therein.

FIG. 7B is a bottom elevation view of a front portion of the lid of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in an open position as shown in FIG. 2 showing a second embodiment of the line of weakness therein.

FIG. 7C is a bottom elevation view of a front portion of the lid of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in an open position as shown in FIG. 2 showing a third embodiment of the line of weakness therein.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a front portion of the tray of the container of FIG. 1 in an open position as shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a front portion of the lid of the container of FIG. 1 in an open position as shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 in a closed position with the tamper evident closure in a locked position.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section side view of the locked tamper evident closure along line A-A shown in FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12 is a cross-section side view if the connection between a lid portion and a tray portion of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 along line B-B shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the tamper evident container of FIG. 1 with the tamper evident closure broken.

The drawings illustrate examples of aspects of the invention. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, and/or from the combination of one or more of the figures and the textual description herein, or from portions thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A container with a tamper evident closure is provided which can be used, for example, to sell food items or the like.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a container 99 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with the container in an open position. Container 99 has a clamshell structure comprising a lid 100, a tray 101 and a hinge 102. Lid 100 may be rotated relative to tray 101 about hinge 102 to move lid 100 from the open position shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to a closed position as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 . Container 99 may be manufactured from a single sheet of material such as plastic, bioplastic, fossil-based plastics, plant-based plastics or other suitable material, including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), bio-polyethylene terephthalate (Bio-PET), polylactic acid (PLA), crystal polystyrene (PS) or oriented polystyrene (OPS).

Tray 101 has a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners. However, it would be understood that alternative shapes of tray 101 could be used. As shown in FIG. 1 , tray 101 includes a bottom base wall 104 with side walls 105 extending vertically upwardly from the periphery of bottom base wall 104. Side walls 105 include a plurality of ribs 106 to add strength and stability of tray 101.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 , the top of side walls 105 of tray 101 includes a lower recess 107 that extends around the perimeter of tray 101 and has a locking indent 108. Lower recess 107 receives lid 100 when container 99 is in a closed position and includes a snap connection as discussed in further detail below. The top of side walls 105 of tray 101 also includes a tray flange 111 that extends outwardly along the perimeter of the tray and is connected to hinge 102 along the back of container 99. Tray flange 111 includes a set of side ridges 126 on each of side of the tray which project upwardly and extend from hinge 102 to the front of container 99, creating an upper recess 127 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12 .

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8 , a lip 124 extends outwardly from tray flange 111 at front of container 99 and between side ridges 126. Lip 124 includes a tray locking protrusion 110 extending upwardly and two protrusions 120 extending downwardly and positioned on either side of tray locking protrusion 110.

As shown in FIG. 1 , lid 100 is generally flat and is shaped to cover tray 101. The perimeter of lid 100 includes a lid ridge 109 extending upwardly (from the perspective shown in FIG. 1 ) with a lid flange 128 adjacent thereto and extending outwardly. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , lid ridge 109 includes a locking projection 129 extending outwards from the outer surface of lid ridge 109. The outer circumference of locking projection 129 is slightly wider than the upper inner circumference of lower recess 107 in tray 101. As a result, when lid 100 is moved to the closed position as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , lower recess 107 and/or locking projection 129 is/are deformed and locking projection 129 snaps into locking indent 108 of tray 101 when positioned adjacent thereto as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 . This arrangement creates a snap connection between lid 100 and tray 101 which requires a force to be applied to separate lid 100 from tray 101. This arrangement allows lid 100 to be lockingly secured to tray 101 in the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 12 , when lid 100 is in the closed position, lid flange 128 sits within upper recess 127 of tray 101 such that side ridges 126 limit access to lid flange 128 along the sides of tray 101.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 , lid flange 128 is connected to hinge 102 along the back of container 99 and is connected to a tamper evident closure 103 and a pair of gripping tabs 119 positioned on either side of the tamper evident closure at the front of container 99.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 7A to C, and FIG. 9 , tamper evident closure 103 includes a holding surface comprising a holding protrusion 115 extending downwardly (from the perspective shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9 ) and positioned between pair of gripping tabs 119, a locking tab 116 that includes a lid locking protrusion 118 extending upwardly (from the perspective shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9 ) and a hinge 117 positioned between holding protrusion 115 and locking tab 116 to permit locking tab 116 to be rotated relative to holding protrusion 115.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7A to C, a line of weakness 121 extends around holding protrusion 115 between it and gripping tabs 119 and lid flange 128. Line of weakness 121 can be made in any manner which allows same to be broken when the container is opened as discussed in greater detail below. By way of example, as shown in the first embodiment in FIG. 7A, line of weakness 121 may be made of a series of cuts or perforations in the container materials at spaced intervals along its length. FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C show a second and third embodiment of line of weakness 121, respectively. In particular, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, line of weakness 121 may comprise a cut in the container material along the portion positioned between holding protrusion 115 and lid flange 128 and a series of cuts or perforations at spaced intervals along the side portions between holding protrusion 115 and gripping tabs 119. As illustrated in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7C, line of weakness 121 may comprise a series of cuts or perforations at spaced intervals along the portion positioned between holding protrusion 115 and lid flange 128 and a cut in the container material along each of the side portions between holding protrusion 115 and gripping tabs 119. It would be understood by a person skilled in the art that alternative configurations of the line of weakness could also be used.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 , to lock tamper evident closure 103, container 99 is placed in the closed position by rotating lid 100 relative to tray 101 about hinge 102. In the closed position, gripping tabs 119 and tamper evident closure 103 are positioned between side ridges 126 of tray 101 and holding protrusion 115 of tamper evident closure 103 is positioned over tray locking protrusion 110 on lip 124 of tray 101. Tamper evident closure 103 is configured such that hinge 117 is positioned beyond the outer end of lip 124 of tray 101 to allow locking tab 116 to be rotated about hinge 117 by approximately 180 degrees to allow lid locking protrusion 118 to be inserted into a recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110. As shown in FIG. 11 , the interior surface of the recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110 includes locking recesses 130 designed to receive locking ridges 131 positioned on the exterior surface of lid locking protrusion 118. Locking ridges 131 are configured such that the recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110 and/or the lid locking protrusion 118 is/are deformed as lid locking protrusion is inserted and the locking ridges 131 snap into locking recesses 130 when positioned adjacent thereto. As a result, lid locking protrusion 118 is secured within the recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110 by a snap connection.

As shown in FIG. 6 , once tamper evident closure 103 has been locked by securing lid locking protrusion 118 in the recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110, the side edges of locking tab 116 abut against projections 120 in lip 124. Similarly, the front edge of locking tab 116 abuts against the upper outside surface of the front side wall of tray 101. As such, access to the edges of locking tab 116 is limited to assist in preventing lid locking protrusion 118 from being removed from the recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110. Griping tabs 119 of lid 100 are offset from tray flange 111 allowing for them to be gripped by both the upper and lower surfaces thereof.

Once tamper evident closure 103 has been locked, access to the container can only be obtained by breaking line of weakness 121 as shown in FIG. 13 . This is accomplished by gripping one or both of gripping tabs 119 and applying an upward force while exerting a downward force on holding protrusion 115 to maintain it in position relative to tray 101. As a result, surface 125 extending laterally from the base of holding protrusion 115 to line of weakness 121 (as shown in FIG. 9 ) abuts against the top surface of lip 124 (as shown in FIG. 8 ) to provide support when the downward force on holding protrusion 115 is applied. In addition, to the extent that holding protrusion 115 deforms downwardly as a result of the downward force being applied, the upper interior surface thereof abuts against the top surface of tray locking protrusion 110 which provides further support to holding protrusion 115. The opposite forces on one or both of gripping tabs 119 and holding protrusion 115 causes line of weakness 121 to break thereby allowing lid 100 to be rotated relative to tray 101 about hinge 102. Holding protrusion 115 remains attached to tray 101 as lid locking protrusion 118 remains locked in the recess opposite to tray locking protrusion 110. As a result, all components of container 99 remain connected after line of weakness 121 has been broken.

As shown in FIG. 3 , lid 100 includes stacking locators 132 which extend upwardly when lid 100 is in the closed position. Stacking locators 132 are configured to receive the bottom of the tray 101 of an identical container 99 to allow stacking of multiple containers in the closed position.

The structure of container 99, in particular the structure of tamper evident closure 103, allows for brittle and/or fragile materials to be used to fabricate container 99 without risk of structural failure to the container or tamper evident closure. By way of example, certain bioplastics, including but not limited to PLA, and certain fossil-based plastics, including but not limited to PS or OPS, typically exhibit a low elongation rate and stress resistance before break when submitted to a mechanical stress in tension like bending in excess of a certain angle. The incorporation of hinge 117 in tamper evident closure 103 provides the ability to use such materials to fabricate the container without increasing the risk of tamper evident closure 103 breaking while the mechanism is being locked.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tamper evident container comprising: a first container portion; a second container portion; a first hinge connected to the first container portion and the second container portion for rotation of the first and second container portions relative to each other from an open position to a closed position; a tamper evident closure comprising: a locking tab and a second hinge connected to the first container portion wherein the locking tab is rotatable about the second hinge to move the locking tab to a locked position wherein the locking tab is connected to a portion of the second container portion when the container is in the closed position; a line of weakness that can be broken when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position to allow the first container portion and the second container portion to be rotated relative to each other from the closed position to the open position; and wherein the locking tab remains connected with the second container portion after the line of weakness is broken.
 2. The tamper evident container of claim 1 wherein the locking tab further comprises a first protrusion and the second container portion further comprises a first recess wherein the first protrusion is inserted within the first recess when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position.
 3. The tamper evident container of claim 2 wherein the first container portion further comprises at least one gripping tab extending outwardly; the tamper evident closure further comprises a holding surface; and the line of weakness is positioned between the at least one gripping tab and the holding surface.
 4. The tamper evident container of claim 3 wherein the first protrusion is retained within the first recess by a snap connection.
 5. The tamper evident container of claim 4 wherein the locking tab further comprises at least one side edge; and the second container portion further comprises at least one surface that surrounds a portion of the first recess; wherein the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent to the at least one surface when the locking tab is in the locked position to inhibit access to the at least one side edge of the locking tab.
 6. The tamper evident container of claim 5 wherein the first recess is provided in a lip extending from the second container portion; and the locking tab is rotated about the lip to insert the first protrusion in the first recess.
 7. The tamper evident container of claim 6 wherein the at least one surface comprises a portion of a side wall of the second container portion.
 8. The tamper evident container of claim 7 wherein the at least one surface further comprises at least one projection extending from the lip.
 9. The tamper evident container of claim 8 wherein the holding surface comprises a second protrusion positioned between the second hinge and the line of weakness.
 10. The tamper evident container of claim 9 wherein the tamper evident closure further comprises a second recess opposite to the second protrusion; and a lip protrusion opposite to the first recess wherein, in the locked position, the lip protrusion is inserted into the second recess.
 11. The tamper evident container of claim 10 wherein the first container portion comprises a lid having an outside periphery edge; the second container portion comprises a tray portion having a base and the sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base; and in the closed position the outside periphery edge of the lid portion engages the sidewall of the tray portion in a snap connection.
 12. The tamper evident container of claim 11 wherein the sidewall of the tray portion includes a ridge extending around at least a portion of an upper edge of the sidewall and wherein in the closed position, at least a portion of the outside periphery edge of the lid portion abuts against at least a portion of the ridge to inhibit access to the at least a portion of the outside periphery edge.
 13. A tamper evident closure for a container comprising a first container portion and a second container portion connected by a first hinge, the tamper evident closure comprising: a locking tab and a second hinge configured to be attached to the first container portion; wherein the locking tab is rotatable about the second hinge to move the locking tab to a locked position wherein the locking tab is connected to a portion of the second container portion when the container in a closed position; and a line of weakness that can be broken when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position to allow the first container portion and the second container portion to be rotated relative to each other from the closed position to an open position; and wherein the locking tab remains connected with the second container portion after the line of weakness is broken.
 14. The tamper evident closure of claim 13 wherein the locking tab further comprises a first protrusion and the first protrusion is inserted within a first recess in the second container portion when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position.
 15. The tamper evident closure of claim 14 wherein the tamper evident closure further comprises a holding surface; the first container portion further comprises at least one gripping tab extending outwardly; and the line of weakness is positioned between the holding surface and the at least one gripping tab.
 16. The tamper evident closure of claim 15 wherein the first protrusion is retained within the first recess by a snap connection.
 17. The tamper evident closure of claim 16 wherein the locking tab further comprises at least one side edge; and wherein the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent the at least one surface provided on the second container portion when the locking tab is in the locked position to inhibit access to the at least one side edge of the locking tab.
 18. The tamper evident closure of claim 17 wherein the first recess is provided in a lip extending from the second container portion; and the locking tab is rotated about the lip to insert the first protrusion in the first recess.
 19. The tamper evident closure of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent at least a portion of a side wall of the second container when the locking tab is in the locked position.
 20. The tamper evident closure of claim 19 wherein the at least one surface further comprises at least one projection extending from the lip.
 21. The tamper evident closure of claim 20 wherein the holding surface comprises a second protrusion positioned between the second hinge and the line of weakness.
 22. The tamper evident closure of claim 21 wherein the tamper evident closure further comprises a second recess opposite to the second protrusion; and a lip protrusion opposite to the first recess wherein, in the locked position, the lip protrusion is inserted into the second recess. 